Centennial of the string galvanometer and the electrocardiogram
Charles Fisch, MD, MACCa
a Krannert Institute of Cardiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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Figure 1 The Lippmann electrometer (1872) and the ECG recorded by Waller in 1887 shown below. "e" represents the electrocardiogram, "h" represents the chest wall motion and t time in 0.05-s intervals. (Reprinted from: Waller AD. A demonstration on man of electromotive changes accompanying the heart’s beat. J Physiol 1887;8:229, with permission.)
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Figure 2 Mathematically constructed curve (lower panel) derived from the capillary manometer ECG (upper panel). The derived curve is nearly identical to an ECG inscribed subsequently with the string galvanometer. (Reprinted from: Einthoven W. Die galvanometrische registerung des menschlichen elektrocardigramms, zugleich eine beurtheilung der anwedung des kapillar-electrometers in physiologie. Pflugers Arch 1903;99:472.)
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Figure 3 A. Waller with his dog Jimme. (British Medical Association, London. From: Besterman E, Creese R. Waller: pioneer of electrocardiography. Br Heart J 1979:42:61–4, with permission.) B. Waller’s dog, Jimme used to record an ECG. (Waller AD. Physiology, Servant of Medicine. London, England: University of London Press, 1910, with permission.) C. Recording of an ECG with the Lippmann capillary manometer. (Waller AD. Introductory address on the electromotive properties of the human heart. BMJ 1888;2:751, with permission.) D. Train wagon used to move the photographic plate in order to record ECGs. (From: Besterman E, Creese R. Waller: pioneer of electrocardiography. Br Heart J 1979;42:61–4, with permission.) E. First human ECG recorded with Lippmann capillary manometer by Waller. Lead from front of the chest connected to the mercury and from back of the chest to the sulfuric acid (Reprinted with permission—see Figure 1 legend).
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Figure 4 A. Einthoven in Leiden with the original string galvanometer. B. Original string galvanometer. From left to right: arc lamp, water-cooled electromagnet, independent timer, projecting lenses and the falling-glass-plate camera. (Reprinted from Snellen HS, University of Leiden School of Medicine). C, E. Recording leads I and II. (Einthoven W. Arch International Physiol 1906;4:132). D. An ECG recorded by Einthoven in 1903–4. (Einthoven W. Arch International Physiol 1906;4:132).
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Figure 5 In 1995, Royal Post Office of the Netherlands issued a commemorative stamp honoring Einthoven as one of the three Dutch Nobel Laureates (courtesy of Frits L. Meijler).
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Figure 6 Einthoven and Lewis in 1921 in Einthoven laboratory (Museum Boerhaave, Leiden, with permission).
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Figure 7 Electrocardiograph used by Lewis at the University College Hospital Medical School built by Cambridge Scientific Instrument Company of London in 1911. From left to right: camera and the falling glass camera, the galvanometer and light source. The ECG in the lower panel recorded with the above instrument. (Reprinted from: BMJ 1950;1:720, British Medical Association, London, with permission.)
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Figure 8 Frank N. Wilson, MD. (Reprinted from: The Journal of the Michigan State Medical Society, January 1953, with permission). Courtesy of Dr. Thomas N. James.
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